Harry Reid's plan ups pressure on moderates

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This is bad news for lawmakers who will need to explain to constituents why the elements that have attracted the most attention -- the public plan, the Medicaid expansion and the insurance exchanges -- won't be available for four years. Some reforms would kick in earlier, Senate aides explained, but the big pieces would still be a ways off.

Reid sought to sidestep hot-button issues that could cause trouble for the bill. Illegal immigrants will not get health benefits under the bill, and it would restrict taxpayer funding of abortion — an issue that almost derailed the House bill.

Abortion rights supporters were quick to praise the language Reid included in the bill, which was an early warning sign that it doesn’t go far enough for some in the anti-abortion community who led the effort to amend the House bill.

The National Right to Life Committee slammed the language as “unacceptable.”

“Reid seeks to cover elective abortions in two big new federal health programs, but tries to conceal that unpopular reality with layers of contrived definitions and hollow bookkeeping requirements,” NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson said in a statement.

Other Democrats praised Reid’s efforts.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass), who was concerned about the tax on Cadillac benefits, praised Reid for raising the limits to policies costing $23,000 for a family and $8,500 for an individual. “They moved, and I like the new numbers. It is closer to where I first began. ... I think we are going pass this legislation.”

Kerry also praised Reid’s efforts to reduce the tax on medical device manufacturers to $20 billion, down from $40 billion, over 10 years.

The Reid bill would increase the Medicare payroll tax on couples who earn more than $250,000 and individuals that earn $200,000 from 1.45 percent to 1.95 percent.

The bill levies a 5 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery. The provision raises $5 billion and was needed to make the numbers work, a Democratic Senate aide said. The Finance Committee considered the tax but dismissed it, in part because it was a public relations battle that senators were not willing to wage.

The Senate bill includes a public insurance option that allows states to choose not to participate. In order to opt-out, states would have to pass a law, the aide said.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated only a fraction of the uninsured -- 3 million to 4 million people -- would enroll in the public plan, in part because some states would decide against offering it. The figure is lower than the 6 million who were estimated to enroll in the public plan under the House bill, which does not provide an escape hatch for states.

“Overall, CBO’s assessment was that about two-thirds of the population would be expected to have a public plan available in their state,” the CBO report stated.

The Reid bill only slightly toughens the requirement that people carry insurance. It levies a $95 fine in 2014 and scales up to $750 by 2016. The Senate Finance bill had no penalty in the first year.

Critics worry that people will choose to pay the cheaper penalty rather than buying the more expensive insurance plans because the bill also requires insurers to offer coverage to people who are sick. That combination could lead to an older, sicker and more expensive risk pool.

In what can be viewed as an election-year sweetener for senior citizens, the coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug program would shrink by $500 in 2010 only under the Senate bill. The Senate aide described it as a "down-payment" that would move the Senate closer to the House bill, which eliminates the donut hole over the next decade.

Getting 60 votes on what amounts to a procedural vote has proved challenging for Reid. Biden held court for more than three hours in a room off the Senate floor. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle were also dispatched to the Capitol by Obama to lobby senators.

As expected, moderates were the focal point. Salazar ate lunch with Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) in the Senate dining room. Lincoln hustled into the Senate reception room for a sit-down with Biden, but she emerged without making any public commitments.

“We’re still counting. Harry is still counting and working,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Obama's victory on healthcare is all but inevitabile now. The GOP can't stop it. And when this passes the teabaggers are going to blame the GOP more than they do the Democrats. If you think conservatives are angry now, wait until this passes. They are going to turn on the GOP for being too weak and powerless to stop it.

SO Reid is still counting votes? Interesting. It;s funny how the rich in this country are going to get flogged by the Liberals. Going to interesting when the politicians go out trying to get the rich to give them money and they are going to say "We gave at the IRS".

As far as this bill goes, sounds like another way to keep people in the figure four leglock of government a little longer. Probably going to raise prices every year and beyond beyond and Senators and house members will go "well, we didn't know".

Medicare bankrupt, Social Security bankrupt, China wants this BS stopped, unemployment at 10.2% and climbing (and that's not even the real number), terrorists given same rights as US citizens, Ft. Hood -the terrorist attack on US soil Cheney warned about, cap and tax, the Afganistan debockle, the apology tours, the bows, congress dismal rating and Obamacare that most Americans do not want, "go ahead, make my day" in 2010 and pass this bill........

Great! It is time to reform our healthcare system, control rising costs and improve access while lowering the deficits. This is the change we voted for. I hope Democrats don't get too caught up in the public option and pass a reform bill that will improve the current system.

Medicare bankrupt, Social Security bankrupt, China wants this BS stopped, unemployment at 10.2% and climbing (and that's not even the real number), terrorists given same rights as US citizens, Ft. Hood -the terrorist attack on US soil Cheney warned about, cap and tax, the Afganistan debockle, the apology tours, the bows, congress dismal rating and Obamacare that most Americans do not want, "go ahead, make my day" in 2010 and pass this bill........

but what about the other 6%. will there be Obamao care 2? come on libs. what about that 6%. its not real reform unless they are covered also. lets make cuts to welfare and government housing to cover that other 6%. or maybe they can ration care. nevermind thats going to happen anyway. where are they going to put all the people that dont pay the fine? are they going to let murderers and rapists go free to make room fr people who dont want this plan? and will the Stupak ammendment be in it. i beleive if a liberal gets pregnant they should abort immediately. i dont want to pay for them for the rest of their lives. i will not participate if passed and they can come and get me if they dare.

Just today I received a US Chamber of Commerce mailing, disguised under the name Campaign for Responsible Health Reform. Operating on behalf of the insurance industry, the brochure uses the same distorted talking points that we've been hearing from the Republicans for months. I tore out the postage-paid Citizen's Petition; changed the wording to indicate that I support a government-run insurance plan; and will mail it back at the expense of the Chamber of Commerce.

Please consider doing the same to make your voices heard on health insurance reform.

If you believe this plan will not be 9 times over budget within 10 years like Medicare was and doesn't drastically increase the budget like every other Govt program ever, will creating rationing (mammograms at 50 instead of 40 in the news today)Then I've got 60000 jobs to create or save in districts that don't exist to sell you!.

lets make cuts to welfare and government housing to cover that other 6%. or maybe they can ration care.

On another note, it's interesting that there are a million comments from conservatives when there's a story about Sarah Palin getting a cheeseburger, but like 6 when there's good news from the Democrats.

Just today I received a mailing from the US Chamber of Commerce disguised under the name Campaign for Responsible Health Reform. Operating on behalf of the insurance industry, the Chamber spews the same distorted talking points that the Republicans have been parroting for months. I tore out the postage-paid "Citizen's Petition"; changed the wording to indicate that I support a government-run insurance plan; and will mail it back at Chamber expense.

Please consider doing the same to let your voices be heard opposing a continuation of profits-at-any-cost.

Medicare bankrupt, Social Security bankrupt, China wants this BS stopped, unemployment at 10.2% and climbing (and that's not even the real number), terrorists given same rights as US citizens, Ft. Hood -the terrorist attack on US soil Cheney warned about, cap and tax, the Afganistan debockle, the apology tours, the bows, congress dismal rating and Obamacare that most Americans do not want, "go ahead, make my day" in 2010 and pass this bill.....